Protective headwear

ABSTRACT

A protective hat comprising a plurality of resiliently deformable shock absorbing members positioned adjacent to the skull of a wearer of the hat, wherein each shock absorbing member is shaped to create a cavity between the shock absorbing member and the skull to allow for inward deflection of the shock absorbing member towards the skull as a result of the shock absorbing member being impacted by an object.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to protective headwear.

BACKGROUND

Hats such as baseball caps are well known and are worn by a wide rangeof individuals for fashion and for protection from the sun.

Baseball caps are commonly worn by players and spectators at sportingevents. Some sporting events such as golf, baseball and cricket involvehard balls that can cause severe injuries if they impact a person'shead. A typical baseball cap, for example, offers little or noprotection from such an impact. There is therefore an advantage inproviding a hat that can protect the wearer from the impact of aprojectile or other object.

There are many other circumstances in which a person is vulnerable toinjury due to an impact on their head. Examples include security guards,police and armed forces.

The most common type of protective hat is a helmet. It is very effectiveat protecting the head of the wearer but can be large and cumbersome. Inmany cases, people may not want to wear a helmet for these reasons andmay instead prefer to wear a typical baseball cap style hat, forexample, because it is smaller, more comfortable and more fashionable.

There is therefore a need to provide a hat that can protect the wearer'shead from impacts while being comfortable and fashionable to wear.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a protective hatand/or a liner for a hat and/or a shock absorbing member for a hat whichovercomes or at least partially ameliorates some of the abovementioneddisadvantages or which at least provides the public with a usefulchoice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention consists in a protective hatcomprising a plurality of resiliently deformable shock absorbing memberspositioned adjacent to the skull of a wearer of the hat, wherein eachshock absorbing member is shaped to create a cavity between the shockabsorbing member and the skull to allow for inward deflection of theshock absorbing member towards the skull as a result of said shockabsorbing member being impacted by an object.

Preferably the inner surface of the shock absorbing member can deflectinto the cavity as a result of impact from an object.

Preferably the inner surface of each shock absorbing member is shaped sothat upon deflecting into the cavity, more of the inner surface contactsthe skull so that the impact load is spread over a larger scullcontacting area.

Preferably each the shock absorbing member is resilient so that itreturns to its original shape after the impact force from said objecthas been dissipated.

Preferably wherein each shock absorbing member has a perimeter withinthe bounds of which is defined the cavity.

Preferably there is a continuous lip at the perimeter of each shockabsorbing member.

Preferably the lip is positioned adjacent to the skull of the wearer ofthe hat and the cavity is distal more the skull of the wearer.

Preferably each shock absorbing member is disk shaped and circular inplan view.

Preferably the cavity of each shock absorbing member is a concavity ofthe base of the shock absorbing member.

Preferably a plurality of resilient shock absorbing members are affixedto a liner that is received inside the hat.

Preferably the lip is thicker than the rest of the shock absorbingmember.

Preferably the shock absorbing member comprises a profile similar to adome or partial sphere.

Preferably the profile is steeper towards the lip than a dome or sphere.

Preferably the profile radius decreases towards the lip.

Preferably the liner is flexible.

Preferably the liner is a fabric.

Preferably alternatively the liner is plastic.

Preferably the shock absorbing members are stitched to the liner.

Preferably alternatively the shock absorbing members are glued to theliner.

Preferably the liner includes a plurality of independent panels.

Preferably the independent panels are dimensioned to substantially matchthe dimensions of a typical hat design.

Preferably a plurality of shock absorbing members are affixed to eachpanel of the liner.

Preferably alternatively the liner may be made up of one or two piecesof material (fabric, plastic or other) that is cut and shaped to apredetermined shape to fit inside a hat of a predetermined size andshape.

Preferably the shock absorbing members are interconnected.

Preferably the shock absorbing members are interconnected to each otherin a part spherical configuration.

Preferably the shock absorbing members are arranged such that there is aminimal gap between adjacent members.

Preferably the shock absorbing members are connected together.

Preferably shock absorbing members are linked to one another by alinkage member.

Preferably said linkage member allows limited movement between the shockabsorbing members it links together, such that movement between theshock absorbing member is allowed but the shock absorbing members areprevented moving apart to an extent sufficient to otherwise allow a ball(eg a golf ball or baseball or cricket ball) to contact the user's skullin use.

Preferably any gap between two or more adjacent shock absorbing membersis not large enough to prevent a golf ball or similarly sized projectilefrom contacting a shock absorbing member and directly impact the skull.

Preferably different sized shock absorbing members are utilised, smallerof the shock absorbing members used to reduce the gaps between larger ofthe shock absorbing members.

Preferably three different sized shock absorbing members are employed.

Preferably at least two sectors of linked shock absorbing members areprovided, each sector being integrally moulded there being a live hingebetween shock absorbing members of the sector to interconnect the shockabsorbing members of a sector together and wherein peripheral shockabsorbing members of each sector are able to connect to peripheral shockabsorbing members of an adjacent said sector by connection clips.

Preferably said connection clips are integrally formed with a said shockabsorbing member.

Preferably said connection clips are each separate items.

Preferably said connection clips are each separate items.

Preferably each said connection clips is able to engage into an apertureof a said peripheral shock absorbing member.

Preferably said clip includes two hook formations, each hook formationable to penetrate through an aperture of a peripheral shock absorber.

Preferably said hook formation and each said aperture with which thehook formation can engage, are adapted to allow an articulation of theconnection clip joined shock absorbing members.

Preferably alternatively up to five different sized shock absorbingmembers are employed.

Preferably the liner is removable from the cap.

Preferably the liner is integral with the cap.

Preferably the liner includes a fastener to tighten the panels of theliner into the desired shape.

Preferably said fastener is a draw string.

Preferably alternatively said fastener is a hook and loop material, suchas Velcro™.

Preferably the hat is a baseball cap style hat.

Preferably each shock absorbing member is a moulded item.

Preferably each shock absorbing member is made of a plastics material,such as PVC.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a liner for a hat,the liner comprising a plurality of connected resiliently deformableshock absorbing members, wherein each shock absorbing member is shapeddefining a cavity to be directed towards the skull of a wearer, themember able to deflect inwardly as a result of receiving an impact froman object.

Preferably said members are frisbee-shaped.

Preferably the shock absorbing members are positioned adjacent to theskull of a wearer of a hat when the liner is located in the hat, thecavity presented towards the skull.

Preferably the inner surface of each shock absorbing member can deflectinto the cavity as a result of an impact from an object.

Preferably as a result of the inner surface of the shock absorbingmember deflecting into the cavity, more of the inner surface pressedonto the skull so that the impact load is spread over a larger area.

Preferably the shock absorbing member is resilient so that it returns toits original shape after the impact load has been dissipated.

Preferably the shock absorbing member has a continuous perimeter insidewhich is defined the cavity.

Preferably there is a continuous lip at the perimeter of the shockabsorbing member.

Preferably the lip is positioned adjacent to the skull of the wearer ofthe hat.

Preferably the shock absorbing member is circular in plan shape.

Preferably the plurality of resilient shock absorbing members areaffixed to a liner that is received inside the hat.

Preferably the liner is flexible.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a resilientlydeformable shock absorbing member for a hat, the shock absorbing memberbeing substantially flat and having two opposed face sides, one faceside being concave in shape to allow for deflection of the shockabsorbing member as a result of an impact from an object on the oppositeface side.

Preferably the one face side of the shock absorbing member can deflectinto the cavity as a result of an impact from an object.

Preferably the shock absorbing member is resilient so that it returns toits original shape after the impact load has been dissipated.

Preferably the shock absorbing member has a continuous perimeter insidewhich the concave face side is defined.

Preferably there is a continuous lip at the perimeter of the shockabsorbing member.

Preferably as a side profile, the continuous lip is of a curvature thatis more pronounced than the curvature of the remaining region of theshock absorbing member.

Preferably at any radially extending cross sectional plane, thecontinuous lip is of a material thickness greater than the remainder ofthe shock absorber.

Preferably the exterior surface (the ball impacting side) of the shockabsorber is of a surface of revolution defined by a semi oblong or semioval curve.

Preferably the shock absorbing member is circular in plan shape.

Preferably the shock absorbing member is part of an integrally formedpatch of interconnected show absorbing members.

Preferably the shock absorbing members are interconnected to each otherin a part spherical configuration.

Preferably the shock absorbing members are arranged such that there is aminimal gap between adjacent members.

Preferably the shock absorbing members are connected together.

Preferably shock absorbing members are linked to one another by alinkage member.

Preferably said linkage member allows limited movement between the shockabsorbing members it links together, such that movement between theshock absorbing member is allowed but the shock absorbing members areprevented moving apart to an extent sufficient to otherwise allow a ball(e.g. a golf ball or baseball or cricket ball) to contact the user'sskull in use.

Preferably any gap between two or more adjacent shock absorbing membersis not large enough to prevent a golf ball or similarly sized projectilefrom contacting a shock absorbing member and directly impact the skull.

Preferably different sized shock absorbing members are utilised, smallerof the shock absorbing members used to reduce the gaps between larger ofthe shock absorbing members.

Preferably three different sized shock absorbing members are employed.

Preferably some of the adjacent shock absorbing members are integrallymoulded there being a live hinge between such shock absorbing members tointerconnect the shock absorbing members together.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a liner for a hatcomprising of a plurality of shock absorbing members able to sit betweenthe dome of a hat and the skull of the wearer and help protect the skullfrom impact damage from airborne objects, wherein each shock absorbingmember comprises a partial dome of a resiliently deformable material,presenting an object contacting side and a concave skull facing side andhaving a perimeter to be positioned proximal most the skull of thewearer.

Preferably the wall thickness of the dome at the perimeter is greaterthan intermediate of the perimeter.

Preferably the partial dome is elliptical in side profile having itsmajor axis extending from one location at the perimeter to an oppositelocation at the perimeter.

Preferably the partial dome is circular in plan profile.

Preferably the perimeter is a continuous perimeter.

Preferably the shock absorbing members are all interconnected to as partof or to form the liner.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in a shock absorbingmember to be incorporated as part of a hat with like shock absorbingmembers to provide protection to the skull of the wearer of the hat, theshock absorbing member comprising, as a unitary construction, a thinwalled outwardly arcuate spanning region peripherally bounded by anannular abutment region of a resiliently flexible material presenting anairborne object impacting face side and a concave skull facing side, theabutment region to be located proximate most the skull and configured todistribute any object impact loading received by the shock absorbingmember to the skull and to resist inward collapse of the spanning regionduring any object impact loading imparted thereon.

Preferably the abutment region and spanning region present a saidimpacting face side of an elliptical or oblong side profile.

Preferably the spanning region is of an even wall thickness.

Preferably the abutment region is of a configuration to provide hoopstrength at the perimeter of the shock absorbing member.

Preferably the abutment region is in a radial cross section constant andpreferably triangular.

Preferably the abutment region is circular in plan perimeter profile.

Preferably the spanning region is continuously curved, preferablytogether with the outer surface of the abutment region.

Preferably the shock absorber and like shock absorbers are in abutmentwith each other.

Preferably the spanning region is a region enclosing the concavitybeneath.

Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the followingdescription which is given by way of example only and with reference tothe accompanying drawings.

In this specification, where reference has been made to external sourcesof information, including patent specifications and other documents,this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussingthe features of the present invention. Unless stated otherwise,reference to such sources of information is not to be construed, in anyjurisdiction, as an admission that such sources of information are priorart or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

For the purposes of this specification, the term “hat” shall beconstrued to mean a general term for a wide range of headwear products.

As used herein the term “and/or” means “and” or “or”, or both.

As used herein “(s)” following a noun means the plural and/or singularforms of the noun.

The term “comprising” as used in this specification means “consisting atleast in part of”. When interpreting statements in this specificationwhich include that term, the features prefaced by that term in eachstatement all need to be present but other features can also be present.Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprised” are to be interpretedin the same manner.

The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications,cited above and below, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference.

This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts,elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification ofthe application, individually or collectively, and any or allcombinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, andwhere specific integers are mentioned herein which have knownequivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such knownequivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually setforth.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example only and withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art method employed in protective headwear byshowing a ball impacting a foam layer over three positions.

FIG. 2a shows a shock absorbing member of the present invention in anormal position.

FIG. 2b shows the shock absorbing member in a compressed position as aresult of an impact from a projectile such as a ball.

FIG. 3 shows a shock absorbing member located adjacent a skull.

FIG. 4 shows a typical baseball cap style hat.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a liner in a flat condition, for a hat, withmany shock absorbing members attached thereto.

FIG. 6 shows a ball impacting a shock absorbing member directly.

FIG. 7 shows a ball impacting two adjacent shock absorbing members.

FIG. 8 shows a ball impacting at the gap between two adjacent shockabsorbing members.

FIG. 9a shows an alternative shock absorbing member.

FIG. 9b shows a bottom view of the shock absorber of FIG. 9a with loaddistribution indicated as D.

FIG. 9c shows a view of the shock absorber of FIG. 9a collapsed underforce of an object.

FIG. 10 shows the shock absorbing member of FIG. 9 being impacted by aball.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing as an example a one piece linermade up of a plurality of connected shock absorbing members of thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 shows a view beneath of the liner of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows a top view of the liner of FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 shows an inverted view of the liner of FIG. 11.

FIG. 15 shows a further embodiment of the shock absorbing members of thepresent invention where two shock absorbers are shown in sectional viewand that are joined by a live hinge.

FIG. 16 shows a sectional view of two shock absorbers connected by anintermediate clip.

FIG. 17 shows clusters of interconnected shock absorbers, arranged in amanner to show how the clusters are able to be connected using the clipas shown in FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 shows a sectional view of a comparison between shock absorberprofiles and a ball.

FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of clusters of interconnected shockabsorbers, arranged in a manner to show how the clusters are able to beconnected using an integrated clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to protective headwear that can protectthe wearer against impact from projectiles such as golf balls, or otherobjects (herein after referred to for simplicity as a ball).

Many of the prior art examples of protective headwear rely on a layer ofpadding such as foam to protect the wearer from an impact. FIG. 1 showssuch a soft padding layer 1, and shows a ball 2 a, 2 b and 2 c overthree positions as it impacts the layer 1. If the force ‘F’ applied bythe ball is large, then the ball can deeply penetrate into the layer 1and deliver a severe load over a small area, e.g. at position 3. As theball compresses the layer, the load is still potentially directlyimparted to the skull of the wearer of the headgear over a very smallarea. This means there is a high force per unit contact area that canresult in a potentially damaging blow the skull of the wearer.

FIGS. 2a and 2b shows a ball 2 over two positions as it commencesengagement with a shock absorbing member 4 of the present invention. Theshock absorbing member is preferably a semi domed, disk, oblong orelliptical shaped member. Preferably the exterior surface (the ballimpacting side) of the shock absorber is of a surface of revolutiondefined by a semi oblong or oval or elliptical curve. The height of theshock absorber being less than its width (diameter).

With reference to FIG. 3, there is shown a shock absorbing member 4positioned adjacent to the skull 5. The shape of the shock absorbingmember 4 is such that a cavity 6 (preferably a singular concavity) isdefined at the inner surface 7 at the head facing side 40. The cavitycan be established between the inner surface 7 and the skull 5.

Preferably each shock absorbing member is dome shaped. Preferably itsperimeter acts as an abutment to that part of the dome intermediate ofthe perimeter. Preferably the dome has a ball contact side 30. Whetherpresented for direct contact or preferably below an obscuring surfacesuch as the dome of a cap or hat, it is the side of the shock absorberthat receives the ball impact.

A plurality of such absorbers, of the same of different sizes, may bepositioned to be able to cover a substantial part of the head of personas seen in FIG. 11.

The shock absorbing member 4 may be formed in a hard material such asPVC. It does not require to be, and preferably is not, of a compressiblematerial such as foam but instead is engineered into a shape to absorbshock. In other forms the shock absorbing members may be made out ofother appropriate materials, such as other plastics or other suchmaterials.

Each shock absorbing member 4 preferably has a ball contact side 30 anda head facing side 40. The ball contact side is presented to becontacted by a ball (whether directly or indirectly via another layer).The head facing side 40 is positioned to transfer force received by anobject such as a ball onto the skull of the wearer. Preferably the headfacing side is or has a concave surface and a perimeter. The concavesurface prevents a ball's impact of the shock absorber being transferreddirectly to the skull of the wearer at least during initial contact andinstead the force is distributed at the peripheral lip 8 of theperimeter of the concavity.

A ball such as a cricket ball, golf ball, baseball or similar may hitthe persons head and exert a force onto the head. By having the shockabsorbers placed intermediate of the ball and the skull of the person,as the force from the ball 2 is exerted on a shock absorbing member 4 itmay compress the member as shown between FIG. 2a and FIG. 2 b. Ininstead of cushioning the ball, a sufficient force of the ball maydepress the shock absorbing member 4. Some energy is absorbed by theshock absorber and dissipates as heat. Some energy is transferred viathe shock absorber as a distributed force D distributed over a largerarea at the peripheral lip 8 of the head facing side 40 of the shockabsorber. This has the effect of reducing the force per unit area whichis transferred to the skull.

In one embodiment the dome shape ball contacting side of each shockabsorber, with a corresponding concavity on the opposite side, helpsprovide an engineered arched structure for energy absorption. Initialcontact by the ball with a shock absorber receives a large reactionforce by the shock absorber due to this preferred configuration. Like anarched bridge supported by abutments at each end. This is unlike theprior art example as shown in FIG. 1 where the ball, at initial contact,in fact receives very little reaction force from the padding layer 1 asthe material simply compresses as the ball advances towards the skull.

In a preferred embodiment the profile of each shock absorber member isdesigned with steeper angles at the outer edge. It is preferably notmerely part of a sphere, but is a unique shape or camber. This profileis shown in FIG. 15 and also as a comparison in FIG. 18, where a domedshock absorber 100 and associated ball 101 is overlaid against a steepangled profile shock absorber member 4 and associated ball 2. The ballimpacts the shock absorber initially at a distance further from theskull than if the shock absorber were purely spherical. This, providinggreater distance of travel of the ball towards the skull for the shockabsorber to work in transferring and dissipating the ball's energy. Aspherical profile is still ok but it is lower on the outer edge of eachshock absorber member. When a ball makes contact between two shockabsorber members, it may touch, or is close to touching the skull inbetween the two shock absorber members before the shock absorbers have achance to work. So the ball is likely to impact the skull as a pointload.

Preferably, there is considerably more and/or more effective shapedmaterial at the outer edge of the absorber then there would otherwise bewith a spherical. The increased amount of material and/or shaping meansgreater tensile strength and a relatively stronger spring for the samematerial. The perimeter shape and/or more material thereat helpsincrease the hoop strength of the shock absorber at the perimeter. Thesteep periphery strengthens and reinforces the outer edge which works intension as the load of the ball is applied to the shock absorber. Thishelps provide increased spring for the dome.

The preferred design helps keep the ball further from the skull whilethe shock absorber is compressing. The preferred design helps keep theball further from the skull when the ball or object lands in the spacebetween two adjacent shock absorbers.

If a ball hits with a small force F1, the load is spread around theperimeter of the shock absorbing member 4.This can be seen in FIG. 9bwhere the load it transferred purely via the perimeter surface 16, someof the energy also dissipated as heat as the material is deformed. If aball hits with a large force F2, the shock absorbing member 4 eventuallycollapses. As the shock absorbing member 4 collapses, energy is takenaway from the impact as the dome stretches as shown in FIG. 9 c. Theperimeter acts as an abutment to the parts of the dome intermediate toallow the dome intermediate to stretch and absorb energy and dissipateit as heat H. Surface 16 continues to transfer force to the skull butfurther collapse of the dome intermediate will result in contact withthe skull thereby. This contact results in an increase in contactsurface area with the skull thereby reducing force per area.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention each of the shock absorbingmembers are circular in plan view and each have a peripheral lip 8 thatis preferably continuous and defines the perimeter of each member.

The lip is located outwardly of the concavity. Alternatively the shockabsorbing members 4 could be non-circular shapes such as ovals, squaresor any other suitable shapes. They are preferably formed as a unitaryitem from a resilient material (such as PVC) such that they can snapback into their original shape after object impact loading has beendiffused.

FIG. 4 shows a typical baseball cap style hat 9. Such a hat 9 istypically made up of a number of panels 10 and may include a brim 11.

FIG. 5 shows a liner 12 suitable for incorporation with hat 9. The liner12 is made up of a number of panels 13. These may preferably correspondswith the number of panels 10 of the hat 9. Each panel 13 has a number ofshock absorbing members 4 attached thereto. The shock absorbing membersmay be arranged in any suitable arrangement such that the gap betweenadjacent shock absorbing members 4 is minimised. There may be differentsized members 4 utilised to achieve optimal spacing between adjacentmembers 4.

By making the profile steeper on the edges, the space between the shockabsorbers can be increased making the liner breathe better and be moreflexible with fewer parts, while also keeping an impacting ball furtherfrom the skull allowing the shock absorbers to compress and work betterthat is the shock absorber was purely part of a sphere.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the liner 12 is fabric, butcould be any other suitable material such as a plastic material. Thevarious shock absorbing members 4 are attached to the liner 12 via anysuitable attachment method. Such attachment methods include stitching orgluing.

In other forms of the protective headwear of the present invention, theliner may be made from fewer pieces or panels. For example, the linermay be made up of one or two pieces of material that is/are cut andshaped to a predetermined shape to fit a hat of a predetermined size andshape. In this form of liner less adjustment or no adjustment of theliner is possible.

FIGS. 11 to 14 show an illustration of a one piece liner with shockabsorbing members that may be fitted into a hat. The liner 20 has aplurality of shock absorbing members 24, 24′, 24″ attached together byappropriate means. For example, the various shaped shock absorbingmembers 24, 24′, 24″ may be stitched, glued or otherwise fixed to apiece of fabric or flexible plastic (not shown), to make up the liner20.

As can be seen in these figures, three shock absorbing members are shownmaking up the liner 20; a large shock absorbing member 24, medium shockabsorbing member 24′ and small shock absorbing member 24″. Fittedtogether the three different sized shock absorbing members make up aliner that is a partial sphere shape, that shape in use conforming tothe shape of a human head. As described above, the spacing between theshock absorbing members does not exceed 12.4 mm, but could be anyspacing smaller than this.

It must be noted that the use of three members is merely one example,additional sizes of the members may also be used, or less sizes may beused. Also, the particular configuration of shock absorbing members asshown in FIGS. 11 to 14 is only one example. Different configurations ofthe shock absorbing members are possible.

The liner 12 (or liner 20) may be interchangeable between hats 9, or maybe manufactured integrally with a hat 9. It should be appreciated thatthe liner 12 may be used in any type of hat, and is not necessarilylimited to use with a baseball cap style hat.

When the liner 12 is located within the hat 9 the shocking absorbingmembers 4 are positioned adjacent to the skull 5 of the wearer of thehat. The arrangement of the shocking absorbing members 4 is such thatthey at least substantially cover the wearer's skull over the entirearea of the skull covered by the hat 9. Therefore, the shock absorbingmembers are effective at diffusing the force from a projectile or otherobject which impacts any part of the skull which is covered by the hat.

The liner 12 is relatively thin and can easily sit between the skull andthe hat. It therefore doesn't detract from the comfort of the hat, nordoes it alter the shape or aesthetics of the hat.

FIGS. 15-17 show an alternative configuration of a plurality of shockabsorbers. The shock absorbers may be made up of clusters of integrallyformed shock absorbers. FIG. 17 shows a plurality of clusters, eachcluster 50 being of a plurality of shock absorbers 4 connected togetherto adjacent shock absorbers in the cluster by a bridge 30. The bridge 30illustrated as rectangles in FIG. 17. The bridge 30 may be a live hinge.A live hinge can allow adjacent shock absorbers to rotate relative toeach other to help the cluster conform to part of the shape of a skullof the wearer. Other forms of bridges may be utilised, to allow anarticulation of shock absorbers to occur.

Clips such a clip 41 may be used to connect shock absorbers together.Some shock absorbers may have an aperture 52 through them to allowengagement with a clip 41 as seen in FIG. 16. The clip can engage at twoapertures one of each of an adjacent shock absorber. The clip 4 can thenhold such shock absorbers together. The clip may be used to connectshock absorbers of adjacent clusters together. The dotted lines in FIG.17 illustrate where clipped connection between shock absorbers ofadjacent clusters may be established.

The clip and its engagement with the shock absorbers preferably alsoallows pivotability, so clipped shock absorbers can articulate relativeeach other. The clip, seen in cross section in FIG. 16, is preferably Cshaped in cross section. Some shock absorbers may have a plurality ofapertures for clipping purposes.

In one embodiment, the clips are integrally attached to one of the twoshock absorbers to be attached together. In this embodiment, only theother shock absorber, with no clip, has an aperture for clippingpurposes- as shown in FIG. 19. In other embodiments, the clips are notintegrally attached, but glued or affixed onto the shock absorber,whilst the other end of the clip engages with the aperture.

Advantages of the separate clip are that tooling and assembly may beless complex, and the separate clip may provide greater flexibility thanthe integrally attached clip.

An assembly of clusters of shock absorbers as seen with reference toFIGS. 15 to 17 may not require the use of a liner substrate for theshock absorbers to be mounted to. The assembly can be located below thedome of a hat or cap and sit there untethered or tethered or otherwiseaffixed to it.

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 show three different scenarios of a ball 2 impactingand deflecting one or more shock absorbing members 4. In FIG. 6 the ball2 impacts directly one shock absorbing member deflects. In FIG. 7 theball 2 impacts two adjacent shock absorbing members, both of whichdeflect. In FIG. 8, the ball 2 impacts at a location in which there is agap 14 between two adjacent shock absorbing members 4. As the members 4are circular in plan shape there will exist gaps 14 between adjacentmembers 4. However, the gap 14 is preferably not too large that theshock absorbing members 4 are not effective, and will still prevent theball 2 from directly impacting the skull. The use of different sizedmembers 4 in the arrangement means that the gaps 14 can be reduced.Preferably the gaps 14 do not exceed 12.4 mm.

The gaps 14 also may act as ventilation channels through which air canpass to improve the comfort for the wearer of the hat.

FIGS. 9a -10 show an alternative shock absorbing member 15 whichperforms in the same manner as the shock absorbing member 4, however hasa different cross-sectional shape. The shock absorbing member 15 has aperipheral lip 16 that defines the perimeter of the member 15. The lip16 includes a flange 17 formed on the inner edge of the perimeter. Theflange 17 provides additional support for the perimeter as well asspring force. As seen in FIG. 9 b, the force distribution D from the lip16 to the skull can be transferred over the entire perimeter of theshock absorber.

The cavity 18 that may be formed in the member is more of asemi-circular shape compared to the triangular shape of the cavity 6 ofmember 4 in FIG. 2.

Other shaped cavities of shock absorbing members of the presentinvention are envisaged. For example, the formed may be more of arhomboid type shape, or any other appropriate shape.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to elementsor integers having known equivalents, then such equivalents are includedas if they were individually set forth.

Although the invention has been described by way of example and withreference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood thatmodifications and/or improvements may be made without departing from thescope or spirit of the invention.

1. A protective hat comprising a plurality of resiliently deformableshock absorbing members positioned adjacent to the skull of a wearer ofthe hat, wherein each shock absorbing member is shaped to create acavity between the shock absorbing member and the skull to allow forinward deflection of the shock absorbing member towards the skull as aresult of said shock absorbing member being impacted by an object.
 2. Aprotective hat as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner surface of theshock absorbing member can deflect into the cavity as a result of impactfrom an object.
 3. A protective hat as claimed in claim 1 wherein theinner surface of each shock absorbing member is shaped so that upondeflecting into the cavity, more of the inner surface contacts the skullso that the impact load is spread over a larger scull contacting area.4. A protective hat as claimed in claim 1 wherein each shock absorbingmember has a perimeter within the bounds of which is defined the cavity.5. A protective hat as claimed in claim 4 wherein there is a continuouslip at the perimeter of each shock absorbing member.
 6. A protective hatas claimed in claim 5 wherein the lip is positioned adjacent to theskull of the wearer of the hat and the cavity is distal more the skullof the wearer. 7-8. (canceled)
 9. A protective hat as claimed in claim 1wherein the shock absorbing members are interconnected.
 10. A protectivehat as claimed in claim 1 where the shock absorbing members areinterconnected to each other in a part spherical configuration. 11-13.(canceled)
 14. A protective hat as claimed in claim 1 wherein any gapbetween two or more adjacent shock absorbing members is not large enoughto allow a golf ball or similarly sized projectile from contacting ashock absorbing member and directly impact the skull. 15-16. (canceled)17. A protective hat as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least two sectorsof linked shock absorbing members are provided, each sector beingintegrally molded there being a live hinge between shock absorbingmembers of the sector to interconnect the shock absorbing members of asector together and wherein peripheral shock absorbing members of eachsector are able to connect to peripheral shock absorbing members of anadjacent said sector by connection clips.
 18. A protective hat asclaimed in claim 17 wherein said connection clips are integrally formedwith a said shock absorbing member. 19-25. (canceled)
 26. A liner for ahat, the liner comprising a plurality of connected resilientlydeformable shock absorbing members, wherein each shock absorbing memberis shaped defining a cavity to be directed towards the skull of awearer, the member able to deflect inwardly as a result of receiving animpact from an object.
 27. A liner as claimed in claim 26 wherein saidmembers are frisbee-shaped.
 28. A liner for a hat as claimed in claim 26wherein the shock absorbing members are positioned adjacent to the skullof a wearer of a hat when the liner is located in the hat, the cavitypresented towards the skull.
 29. A liner for a hat as claimed in claim26 wherein the inner surface of each shock absorbing member can deflectinto the cavity as a result of an impact from an object.
 30. A liner fora hat as claimed claim 28 wherein as a result of the inner surface ofthe shock absorbing member deflecting into the cavity, more of the innersurface pressed onto the skull so that the impact load is spread over alarger area. 31-32. (canceled)
 33. A resiliently deformable shockabsorbing member for a hat, the shock absorbing member beingsubstantially flat and having two opposed face sides, one face sidebeing concave in shape to allow for deflection of the shock absorbingmember as a result of an impact from an object on the opposite faceside.
 34. A resilient shock absorbing member as claimed in claim 33wherein the one face side of the shock absorbing member can deflect intothe cavity as a result of an impact from an object. 35-42. (canceled)43. A liner for a hat comprising of a plurality of shock absorbingmembers able to sit between the dome of a hat and the skull of thewearer and help protect the skull from impact damage from airborneobjects, wherein each shock absorbing member comprises a partial dome ofa resiliently deformable material, presenting an object contacting sideand a concave skull facing side and having a perimeter to be positionedproximal most the skull of the wearer. 44-46. (canceled)
 47. A shockabsorbing member to be incorporated as part of a hat with like shockabsorbing members to provide protection to the skull of the wearer ofthe hat, the shock absorbing member comprising, as a unitaryconstruction, a thin walled outwardly arcuate spanning regionperipherally bounded by an annular abutment region of a resilientlyflexible material presenting an airborne object impacting face side anda concave skull facing side, the abutment region to be located proximatemost the skull and configured to distribute any object impact loadingreceived by the shock absorbing member to the skull and to resist inwardcollapse of the spanning region during any object impact loadingimparted thereon. 48-51. (canceled)